University of Wisconsin-Madison to offer free tuition for families making less than $56K

The University of Wisconsin-Madison will now offer free tuition and fees for students from households that make less than $56,000 a year, The Associated Press reported.

The program, called "Bucky’s Tuition Promise,” is the latest move by a major university to try and make higher education more accessible and affordable for students.

In-state students at UW-Madison currently pay $10,533 a year in tuition and fees.

"Many low- and middle-income families in Wisconsin simply don't know whether they can afford to come to UW-Madison," Chancellor Rebecca Blank said as she announced the program, according to the AP.

"Indeed, if they just read the popular press about student debt and sky-rocketing tuition their assumption will be that they can't. We want to make it very clear to low- and moderate-income families in Wisconsin that we're going to do everything we can to make this an affordable school,” she continued.

Similar programs are growing in popularity across higher education as advocates argue that high tuition costs are blocking students from pursuing degrees. Six other "Big Ten" colleges have similar offers.

The same day, the university regent’s finance committee signed off on increasing nonresident and graduate tuition for three schools at UW-Madison. The full board is expected to approve the proposed increases on Friday, The AP reported.